22:40, 23 November 2010

Saakashvili urges EU countries to recognize occupation of Georgia

Speaking to the session of European Parliament, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili has stated that his country will no longer try returning Abkhazia and South Ossetia by using military force, and asked the European Union (EU) to recognize occupation of his country by Russia.

According to his story, Georgia will "use only peaceful means to achieve de-occupation and reintegration." "Everyone should know how complex and difficult this decision had been for us, when we have 500,000 refugees in our country," said President Saakashvili.

He also noted that the Georgian party is ready for political dialogue with Russia, the IA "News-Georgia" reports.

On the eve of his speech at the European Parliament, the Georgian President said in his interview to the French newspaper Le Figaro that Russia and Georgia should start negotiations without any preconditions.

However, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already stated in response that Russia has nothing to talk about with the current leadership of Georgia, the "Interfax" reports.